Mr Cameron's spokeswoman told reporters that Mr Ma, currently executive chairman of the Alibaba Group, would be joining the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group.

The e-commerce boss will "provide particular help and advice on how to get small and medium-sized British businesses boosting their exports and in particular accessing Chinese markets through platforms like Alibaba", she said.

David Cameron

Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne believe that close ties with China are vital to cementing Britain's economic growth in decades to come.

But human rights activists accuse the Government of kowtowing to China and the state visit is expected to be accompanied by protests.

Mr Cameron's Business Advisory Group had 19 members in July - most of them chief executives of top British companies, including the heads of BP, easyJet and Rolls-Royce.